Seat adjusting mechanism



Jan. 26, 1965 J. PICKLES 3,

SEAT ADJUSTING MECHANISM Filed May 28, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

JOSE H CKLES Jan. 26,1965 J. PICKLES SEAT ADJUSTING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 28, 1962 H v Q ab TN .WM

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INVENTOR. PH PIG KLES United States Patent The present invention relates to seat adjusting mechanism, and more particularly, to seat supporting and adjusting mechanism for an automotive vehicle adapted to provide four-way adjustment.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simplified construction effective to adjust the seat vertically and in a fore and aft direction.

It is a feature of the present invention to provide seat adjusting mechanism comprising front and rear height adjusting levers mounted for rocking movement intermediate their ends, the front end of the front lever and the rear end of the rear lever being pivotally connected to a seat supporting frame, and means interconnecting the rearwardly extending portion of the front lever and the forwardly extending portion of the rear lever.

. It is a further feature of the present invention to provide in a seat adjusting mechanism a pair of height adjusting levers mounted for rocking movement intermediate their ends and extending in a fore and aft direction, the opposite end portions of said levers being pivotally connected to a seat supporting frame, the adjacent ends of said levers overlapping each other, and means interconnecting the overlapping ends of said levers.

It is a further feature of the present invention to provide mechanism as described in the preceding paragraph in which the vehicle seat is mounted for fore and aft sliding movement on said seat suppont frame.

Other objects and features of the invention Will become apparent as the description proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein:

. FIGURE 1' is a plan view of the seat adjusting mechanism. I

. FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the mechanism, as seen from the left in FIGURE 1. j

FIGURE 2A is a fragmentary view illustrating a modified connection between lift levers.

FIGURE 3 is afragmentary rear elevational view look-1' ing inthedirection. of the arrows 33, FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the mechanism as seen from the right in- FIGURE 3.

FIGURE Sis a fragmentary front elevational view looking in the direction of the arrows 5-5, FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary front elevational view looking in the direction of the arrows 6-6, FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary end'view looking in the direction of the arrows 77, FIGURE 4. 7 v

The seat supporting and adjusting mechanism comprises generally similar assemblies adapted tobe positioned adjacent opposite ends of the front seat of a motor vehicle and the mechanisms are interconnected by torsion bars extending transversely of the vehicle to insure simultaneously identical operation of. the mechanisms at opposite ends of the seat. 3 f

Referring first to FIGURES 13 the seat adjusting mechanism at the right hand side of the vehicle is illustrated. This mechanism comprises a base 10 adapted to be fastened to the floor of the vehicle by suitable assembly screws 12 The base 10 at the front end thereof includes an upstanding flange portion 14 to which a front height adjusting lever 16 is pivoted by means including a pivot stud 18. The lever 16 extends in a fore and aft direction and its front end is pivotally connected to a depending 3,167,296 Patented Jan. 26, 1965 front leg 20 on a seat Supporting frame 22 by pivot means including the torsion bar 24 to which the lever 16 is fixed and which extends transversely across the front of the seat adjusting mechanism. Interconnecting the pivot stud 18 and the torsion bar 24 is a spring 26 one end of which as indicated at 28, is received in a slot in the 'pivot stud 18. The springis arranged to provide an upward force acting on the leg '20 so as to counterbalance in part the weight of the seat and supported structure.

Adjacent the rear of the base 10 there is pivoted the rear height adjusting lever 30, the pivot connection comprising a rivet 32. The lever 30extends in' a fore and aft direction and its rear end is connected by a pin and slot connection indicated at 34 to the rear downwardly depending legs 36 of the seat supporting frame 22.

It will be observed that the forward end of the rear height adjusting lever overlaps the rear end of the front height adjusting lever and these overlapped end portions of levers 16 and 30 are interconnected as by a pin and slot connection illustrated at 38.

With the foregoing arrangement it will'be observed that counterclockwise rocking movement of the front "height adjusting lever 16, which raises the front end of the seat supporting frame 22, results in clockwise rotation of the rear height adjusting lever 30 which simultaneously raises the rear edge of the seat supporting frame 22.

Instead of providing the pin and slot-connection between the levers 16 and 30 these may be connected as indicated in FIGURE 2A where the front end of a rear height adjusting lever 30a is shown'as connected to the rear end of the front height adjusting lever 1611 by means of a rigid link 40 which is pivoted to lever16a as .indicat ed at 42, and pivoted as indicated at 44 to the lever 30a.

Means are provided for effecting power height adjustment of the seat and this comprises a motor 46 having its drive shaft connected to-a motor-mount and gearbox 47 which is pivoted to a bracket 48 by a pivot mounting indicated at 49. Gearing within the gear box 47 drives a threaded shaft 50. Mounted on the threaded shaft 50 for movement longitudinally thereof is-a nut 52 which is connected by an arm device 54 fixedly secured to the torsion bar 24 as by Welds indicated at 55.v The arm device 54 is pivotally connected to the nut 52 by pivot means indicated at 56.

Since the arm device 54 is welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the torsion bar 24, it will of course be apparent that the nut- 52 and arm device54 will cause the torsion bar 24 to swing upwardly in an are about the axis of pivot connection 18 when the nut 52 is m'oved to the right. The nut 52 will accordingly not movein a tsraight line and it is for this reason that the pivot mounting 49 for, the gear box 47 is provided. Movement of, the nut 52 to the right effects generally upward movement of the torsion bar 24 and hence, causes generally upward movement of the front end of the seat supporting frame 22. This of course results in counterclockwise rotation of-the lever 16 which motion is elfective to swing the lever -30 clock wise about its pivot support32, thus raising the rear end of the lever 30and correspondingly raising the rear end of the seat supporting frame 22. I a

It is of course essential that identical movement be imparted to the seat adjusting mechanism atthe opposite side of the seat and this is accomplished through the torsion bar 24 which is fixed to the forward end of the front height adjusting lever 60. The connection is best illustrated in-FIGURE 5 where it will be seen that the torsion bar 24 is'connected by a pin 62 to a sleeve :64, the sleeve being welded as indicated at 66 to. the front height adjusting lever 60. The front height adjusting lever 60, as best seen in FIGURES 1 and 4, is provided with a pivot mounting 68 intermediate its ends and is bar116, V I a The torsibn bar 11 6'l'is offcourse for the purpose of,

generi transmitting the motion from I the left hand adjustment unit to -theright hand adjustment 'unit so as to cause i'identical fore and aft adjustment of the opposite ends of the seattconstruction. The right'hand adjustment unit in the pivot stud 68 and the other end extending around I the torsion bar 24;

Lever 72 in turn is provided with 'a pivot connection 74 to one flange 76 of 'the base '78. The seat supporting frame 22a includes depending legsj 80 whichgare pivoted to the torsion bar.24 as best seen in: FIGURE 5.- Similarlyrthe seat supporting frame 22a includes at its rear left hand corner a depending leg 82 which is provided with a pin and slot connection indicated generally at 84 to the rear end of the rear height adjusting lever 72.

as best seen in FIGURES l and '2, includes an arm 122 fixedly secured to the torsion bar 116and shaped identically with, the arm 114. Connected to the arm 122 is a rigid link v 124 dimensioned identically with the link 112. The link "124 is pivotally connected to the slide 90"by pivot means indicated at 126. Accordingly,

"as the motor 9 6'is energized to effect fore and aft adjustment of the seat, the links and leversin .the left hand'adjusting unit adjust the slide 92 and at the same time eifect a predetermined rotation of the torsion bar At; the right hand sideof the seat thetorsi'on bar 24 is fixedly'connecte'd to thellever 16 through the medium].

of a sleeve 86. to which the lever 16 is welded, the sleeve being pinned bar24.

Accordingly, the arm device 54 togetherwith the torsion bar 24 and the forwardly extending arm of the lever or otherwise .fixedly secured .tothetor'sion 116. This rotation of the torsion bar '116 through the v agency, of the'arm 122 and link 124 elfects'exactly similar movement of the slide 90.

Inorder'to provide for stability of the seat construction therrear height adjusting levers-80 and 74' are provided with ,nylon blocks 130 which operate as spacers [between the relatively long rear height adjusting levers r and the adjacent flange portions 14 and 76.

16, constitutes in effect a rigid leverassembly rotatable/ as a unit about the'axisof the pivot connection 18;

From'FI GURE 2 it will be observed that an imaginary" line joining theaxis of pivot connection 18 and pivot connection 56 extends at approximately a 45 degree angle with respect to the; vertical, and this'position corresponds to the lower position ofthe seat. As the nut 52 is advanced to the right asseen in FIGURE 2, thisim-aginary lever arm passes through the vertical toa position therebeyond, thus providing the most mechanical advantage.

7 'While the connectionlbetween the lever 16 and the lever at one side of the seat, and between the levers 60 and 72; is illustrated as a pin and slot connection, it willfof coursebe ap'preciated that the requirement is for a lost-motion connectionand such connection may be provided .by an interposedtlink similar to the link shown in FIGURE Z A,

' Thedrawings; and the foregoing specification consti tute a description of the improved seat adjustingmecha- V nism in such full, clear, concise and exact terms as to It will be observed that movement of the nut 52 to'thev right as seen in FIGURE 2, has the primary efiect of rotating the'lever' 16 about its stationary'pivot support 18. However, this'is accomplished through the torsion bar- 24,

which not only moves in an arcuate .path' with the axis of the pivot connection.18 as centered, but also, the torsion bar 24is turned about its own'axis; This turning of the-torsionbarwhich is *the' result of rocking the lever t 16 about its pivot mounting is transmitted by: the torsion bar 24 to the left hand side of the seatconstruction' where it is effective to rock thelever 60laboutits pivot support 68, and thuscause identical operation of the-seat raisingstructure at both ends of the" seat V In'addition to the mechanism forefiecti'ng substantially vertical' adjustment of the seat, means are-providedfor I enable any person skilled inithe artto practice theinvenclaims. it I I I I I What I claim'as my invention is: I 'Sealt j sting mechanism comprising a base,

tion, the scope of which isfin'dicated. by the appended a seat frame above said base, a frontheight adjusting lever having pivotmeans intermediate its ends mounting said lever, to "said -base, said front height adjusting lever exten'dirlg in 'aif ore and; aft direction, pivot means connecteifecting a generally fore and aft seat adjustment. This mechanism comprises (the use of a slide 90 "at the right hand unit and 'a slide 92.1in1the' left hand unit, the slides porting frame 22 by means including the studs '94;

Referringi ow to FIGURES '1, 4 6' and?" there "is shown ahorizontal adjustment motor' 96 carried by; at motor support and-gear box 98 the-latter being supported being adapted for connection directly to the seatsup I I I II I I I I I iP g nds to. produce simultaneou .movament of said leversi i 1 e a I by a pivot support 100 and amounting bracket 102. The

gear box 98 is connected to a threadedshaft 104 which, 7 H a. c v

tending short linkip votally connected between the overextends withinan elongated nutjas'sembly 106 which'js connected by pivot means indicated at' 10 8 to .abracket lltl i welded or otherwise' rigidly' connected tol-the slider 92-asf best illustrated in FIGURE57; Also ;connected to: the

pivot means, 10s i s 'a rigid link 112to the opposite T n i of whieh' is connected an;'arm"114"fixedly connected to V a second torsion"bar'116 IAs 'best seen inI FI GURE 1,

the connection bet-ween thel'arm 114 and the torsion'bar V 116 is" a welded conneetion indicated'at 118. According? ly, as-theinotor96 is operatedtoldrive the screwshaftt 104; the nut: assembly 106" is-rnoved generally horizontally longitudinally of the. screw shaft-104, thus 'moving the slide 921011 the elongated element 224.; I: At the same time,"

movement of the slide 92,;through the link l lz andlarm Q lev rfto Said s'eat frame, tl1e front end of said rear height adjusting lever andithe rear end of said front height ad:

114 causes. a corresponding rotation of theftorsi on J ea p diu ing' th e front {end of said front height adjusting lever to lever extending in;a; fore and-aft directiong'pivot means a connecting the rear end of saidl'rear height adjusting lever to said S ahfIaIl'lQ'ihC front end of'said rearheight ;adju'sting lever and therear end of said front height adjusting leverbein'g in laterally overlapping, relation, and a mechanical connection "directly between said overlap- 2 jMechanism gas' definedl-in claim ;1 in whiehtsaid mefchanicallconnection is 'a pin andslot connection.

3 'Mechanism as defined in clairn 1 in whichlsaid mechanical connection comprises a 'g'enerally vertically exlever to said base, said Y front height" adjusting lever. ex-

: tendingin 'afore and .aft direction, pivot means connectingjthe front end of saidfront' height adjusting lever to adjusting lever to said base, a said rear height, adjusting lever extending in a foreaind-Jaft direction,.Pivot means connecting. the rearjendoffsaidlrear, height adjusting justing lever being in laterally overlapping relation, a

f mechanical connection" 'directly'between said overlapping ends to Produce simultaneouslswinging movement of said I I I I I nechanis mhcomprising a base, aseat 1 :1 frame above 'i'said base; a front} height adjusting lever [having p ivot means intermediate its ends mounting said levers, actuating means for said mechanism comprising an arm fixed to one of said height adjusting levers, and power means connected to said arm to swing said arm and said one height adjusting lever about its pivot connection to said frame.

5. Seat adjusting mechanism comprising a base, a seat frame above said base, a front height adjusting lever having pivot means intermediate its ends mounting said lever to said base, said front height adjusting lever extending in a fore and aft direction, pivot means connecting the front end of said front height adjusting lever to said seat frame, a rear height adjusting lever having pivot means intermediate its ends mounting said rear height adjusting lever to said base, said rear height adjusting lever extending in a fore and aft direction, pivot means connecting the rear end of said rear height adjusting lever to said seat frame, the front end of said rear height adjusting lever and the rear end of said front height adjusting lever being in laterally overlapping relation, and a mechanical connection directly between said overlapping ends to produce simultaneous swinging movement of said levers, the pivot means mounting said front and rear height adjusting levers to said base being substantially midway between the ends thereof to provide substantially equal lift to the front and rear edges of the seat frame.

6. Seat adjusting mechanism comprising a seat frame, a pair of units positioned beneath opposite ends of said frame, each of said units comprising a base, a front height adjusting lever having pivot means intermediate its ends mounting said lever to said base, said front height adjusting lever extending in a fore and aft direction, pivot means connecting the front end of said front height adjusting lever to said seat frame, a rear height adjusting lever having pivot means intermediate its ends mounting said rear height adjusting lever to said base, said rear height adjusting lever extending in a fore and aft direction, pivot means connecting the rear end of said rear height adjusting lever to said seat frame, the front end of said rear height adjusting lever and the rear end of said front height adjusting lever being in laterally overlapping relation, a mechanical connection directly between said overlapping ends to produce simultaneous swinging movement of said levers, a torsion bar extending transversely between said units and having its ends nonrotatably fixed to corresponding height adjusting levers, and means for swinging said corresponding height adjusting levers and torsion bar as a unit.

7. Seat adjusting mechanism comprising a seat frame, a pair of units positioned beneath opposite ends of said frame, each of said units comprising a base, a front height adjusting lever having pivot means intermediate its ends mounting said lever to said base, said front height adjusting lever extending in a fore and aft direction, pivot means connecting the front end of said front height adjusting lever to said seat frame, a rear height adjusting lever having pivot means intermediate its ends mounting said rear height adjusting lever to said base, said rear height adjusting lever extending in a fore and aft direction, pivot means connecting the rear end of said rear height adjusting lever to said seat frame, the front end of said rear height adjusting lever and the rear end of said front height adjusting lever being in laterally overlapping relation, a mechanical connection directly between said overlapping ends to produce simultaneous swinging movement of said levers, a torsion bar extending transversely between said units and having its ends nonrotatably fixed to corresponding height adjusting levers, an arm non-rotatably fixed to said torsion bar, and power means connected to said arm to swing said torsion bar about the axis of the pivot means mounting said corresponding height adjusting levers to said bases and to turn said torsion bar in space about its own axis.

8. Mechanism as defined in claim 7 in which said power means comprises a motor, a pivot mounting for said motor, a screw shaft connected to said motor, and a nut on said screw shaft pivotally connected to said arm.

9. Seat adjusting mechanism comprising similar adjusting devices at opposite ends of a seat, each of said devices comprising a lever, said levers having fixed transversely aligned pivot mounts, a torsion bar fixedly connected to said levers at transversely aligned points spaced from the axes of said pivot mounts, and power means at one end of the seat connected substantially directly to one of said levers for swinging said levers and torsion bar in unison.

10. Seat adjusting mechanism comprising similar adjusting devices at opposite ends of a seat, each of said devices comprising a lever, said levers having fixed transversely aligned pivot mounts, a torsion bar fixedly connected to said levers at transversely aligned points spaced from the TXXCS of said pivot mounts, an arm fixed to said torsion bar, and power means connected to said arm.

11. Seat adjusting mechanism comprising similar adjusting devices at opposite ends of a seat, each of said devices comprising a lever, said levers having fixed transversely aligned pivot mounts, a torsion bar fixedly connected to said levers at transversely aligned points spaced from the axes of said pivot mounts, an arm fixed to said torsion bar, power means comprising an element movable substantially fore and aft of the seat, and pivot means connecting said element to said arm.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,907,371 Scott Oct. 6, 1959 2,922,462 Kalvaitis Jan. 29, 1960 

1. SEAT ADJUSTING MECHANISM COMPRISING A BASE, A SEAT FRAME ABOVE SAID BASE, A FRONT HEIGHT ADJUSTING LEVER HAVING PIVOT MEANS INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS MOUNTING SAID LEVER TO SAID BASE, SAID FRONT HEIGHT ADJUSTING LEVER EXTENDING IN A FORE AND AFT DIRECTION, PIVOT MEANS CONNECTING THE FRONT END OF SAID FRONT HEIGHT ADJUSTING LEVER TO SAID SEAT FRAME, A REAR HEIGHT ADJUSTING LEVER HAVING PIVOT MEANS INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS MOUNTING SAID REAR HEIGHT ADJUSTING LEVER TO SAID BASE, SAID REAR HEIGHT ADJUSTING LEVER EXTENDING IN A FORE AND AFT DIRECTION, PIVOT MEANS CONNECTING THE REAR END OF SAID REAR HEIGHT ADJUSTING 